Thursday, May 16, 2024
4:00PM - 7:00PM
Evergreen Rotary Park, 1400 Park Ave, Bremerton WA
What Makes a Farmers Market Great! Great Farms of Course!
A farmers market differs from a grocery store where produce from across the globe is available on shelves at any time. Shopping at a farmers market requires patience and a commitment to seasonal eating. In Western Washington, the wait for produce is longer compared to other regions of the country, and even within the state. Commonly available in May are sprouts, greens, herbs, mushrooms, and numerous plant starts from local farms. We also have access to apples, asparagus, and other produce brought over from Eastern Washington. Additionally, we are fortunate to have the local food co-op source produce from small farms around Kitsap County. The following items are some of what will be fresh this week:
Pea Shoots
Sun Shoots
Bok Choy Greens
Garlic Greens
Fresh Mints
Fresh Herbs
Zucchini, Tomato, Peppers, Herbs,
Mints & Perennial Vegetables/Fruit Starts
Fuentes Fresh Farm:
Mint
Apples
Asparagus
Onions
Potato
Lions Mane Mushrooms
King Trumpet Mushrooms
Salad Mix
Pea Shoots
Sunflower Shoots
Spinach
Spouting Broccoli
Onion Bunches
Bok Choy
Tomato, Pepper, & Eggplant Starts
Baby Greens Mix (Tatsoi, Chard, Kale, Collards)
Lettuce Mix
Mini Head Lettuce
Kale
Chard
Collards
Pac Choi
Tatsoi
Sprouting Broccoli
Vendors This Week: Download Vendor Map Here
Farmers
Fuentes Fresh Farm
Taylor's Honey Farm
Produce Resellers
Artisans/Crafters
3 Sisters Crafts PNW
Abundant Creativity
Callie's Crystals
Diane's Dezines
Jacquelyn's Jems
Oh La La Boutique & More
Studio 23 Arts
Prepared & Processed Food
Heathens BakeryÂ
Primavera Bakery
Purdy Pickles
Community Booths
Music at the Market
Visit the market this week for the smooth tunes of Marly Mitchell Music. Marly Mitchell is a Bremerton-based musician and music teacher. She sings jazz standards and accompanies herself on the ukulele. See you at the market!
A heartfelt thanks to Bremerton Office Machine Company for their ongoing sponsorship of Music at the Market in 2024! To express your support, think about visiting their store at 245 4th Street, Suite 503, in Downtown Bremerton. Who knows, you might just find a classic typewriter to add to your collection.
Children's Author Toni Yuly at the Market
Join Ballast Books and Bremerton Author-Illustrator Toni Yuly to celebrate her newest children's book, The Pelican Can! This gentle rhyming book introduces little ones to those amazing birds, the pelican. The book will be available for purchase as well as a free children's craft to make your very own pelican to take home! Storytimes with the author will be every hour (or as needed and able). We hope to see you there!
Toni Yuly is the creator of many acclaimed picture books including Some Questions About Trees, The Whole Wide World and Me, Thank You, Bees, and Slowly, Slowly. She studied painting at the University of Washington, where she worked with the great American painter Jacob Lawrence. Toni also worked for many years as a librarian with the King County Library System. She now lives in Bremerton, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Visit her at ToniYuly.com.
Great news! Eligible school-age children in Washington State can get Sun Bucks - $120 per child in grocery benefits during the summer. This is in addition to existing program such as SNAP, summer meal programs, and Women, Infants and Children. Together, these benefits help fuel children during the summer months when school is out. And even better, these benefits can be used at farmers markets! Bring you card to the Market Info booth and use it to purchase EBT $1 market tokens. SUN Bucks is eligible for the SNAP Market Match program and will be matched up to $25. These benefits will be available in mid-June.
Eat Dinner at the Market!
Enhance your farmers market visit by enjoying dinner at the park. Explore the variety of scrumptious foods offered by our vendors. Stop by the following stalls for a tasty snack or a satisfying meal:
Market Tokens Are Money!
Did you purchase market tokens last year and have not used them? You might be sitting on a treasure without even realizing it! Many market tokens are out there in our community, unused and overlooked. Don't let this opportunity slip by... take a look in your glove compartment, your junk drawer, or the depths of your purse. Remember, tokens don't accrue interest or appreciate in value by being stored away, so unearth them and take them to the market. Consider what you could purchase if you discover some in your home.
Parking at the Market
We kindly ask you to be considerate neighbors by parking only in designated areas. Kitsap Community Resources has graciously made their parking lot available after 4:30 PM, located just one block away. Note that the boating area has only five designated parking spots. Vehicles parked outside these areas may be ticketed. We appreciate your cooperation!
The WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is Arriving Soon!
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides nutritional aid to seniors 60 years and older who fulfill the income eligibility criteria. This funding will be provided via an electronic benefits card that is accepted at participating farmers markets. For 2024, there's good news: eligible seniors may receive up to $80 to spend on vegetables, fruits, and honey! Remember, the program is available on a first-come, first-served basis and will run until all the funding is distributed. Applications must be mailed in and will be available soon at the Market Info Booth.
The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) offers benefits to both WIC participants and farmers. Each WIC participant receives $30 ($90 maximum per family) to buy approved fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmers at farmers markets and farm stands. Inquire about this program at your local Women, Infants, and Children office. Eligible WIC participants receive FMNP benefits on an electronic benefits card, alongside their standard WIC benefits.
WIC Cash Value Benefits (CVB)
Participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program are able to utilize their Cash Value Benefits (CVBs) at farmers markets throughout the year to buy fresh, locally sourced fruits and vegetables. These funds are pre-loaded onto an electronic benefits card, ready for use at participating farm booths. The direct engagement between WIC recipients and local farmers not only provides access to nutritious food but also builds community ties and a connection to the origin of their food. By spending WIC CVBs at farmers markets, participants support themselves and their families with healthy choices, bolster local farming, and encourage community-wide healthy eating practices.
SNAP Market Match
How to use SNAP Market Match at the market:
Come to our Information Booth and tell us you’d like to SNAP Market Match.
Swipe your EBT card for the amount you want to spend.
SNAP Market Match will match up to $25/day/card.*
*The new SUN Bucks cards are also eligible for SNAP Market Match.
You can use your SNAP Market Match bucks on all of the following items:
Fresh vegetables
Fresh fruits
Mushrooms
Fresh herbs
Seeds and plants that produce food (for example, tomato seeds or tomato plants)
All of our farm vendors and produce resellers accept SNAP Market Match for qualifying items!
Become a VOLUNTEER!
Contribute to making the Market even more incredible! Share your talents—both intellectual and physical —and enjoy a fulfilling experience. To apply, please visit our website: Help Us Grow | Bremerton Community Farmers Market | Bremerton
Kitsap Harvest Grow-A-Row
Kitsap Harvest is once again gathering produce, with the aid of volunteers, to distribute throughout Kitsap County to those facing hunger and food insecurity. This community-driven organization is addressing hunger and reducing food waste by harvesting fruit trees and accepting produce donations from individual gardeners and community plots. The collected food is then delivered to various local organizations, including senior centers, recovery centers, and services for homeless youth and veterans.
If you wish to contribute produce, you can find a donation station at the Bremerton Community Farmers Market and other locations across the county. To keep informed about Kitsap Harvest activities, sign up for their newsletter. For any inquiries, please contact info@kitsapharvest.org.
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